ENSC 13300 Lecture 7: What is Air Quality
16 Nov 2016
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What is Air Quality?
“Air quality” refers to the condition of the air within our surrounding.
Good air quality pertains to the degree which the air is clean, clear
and free from pollutants such as smoke, dust and smog among other
gaseous impurities in the air. Air quality is determined by assessing a
variety of pollution indicators. Good air quality is a requirement for
preserving the exquisite balance of life on earth for humans, plants,
animals and natural resources. As such, human health, plants,
animals and natural resources are threatened when pollution in the
air reach high concentrations.
Poor air quality can affect or harm human health and/or the
environment. Air quality can be degraded by natural or man-made
sources. Natural sources include volcanic eruption, windstorm dust.
Man-made source include pollution from moving vehicles, toxic gases
from industries, coal powered plants, burning wood or other material
in open air, landfills. Both these sources can seriously affect the
overall air quality and can lead to severe health problems for humans.
According to British Columbia (BC),
The term “air quality” means the state of the air around us. Good air
quality refers to clean, clear, unpolluted air. Clean air is essential to
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maintaining the delicate balance of life on this planet — not just for
humans, but wildlife, vegetation, water and soil. Poor air quality is a
result of a number of factors, including emissions from various
sources, both natural and “human-caused.”
How is Air Quality Degraded?
Air quality is degraded by the day to day emissions from different air
pollution sources. These include: stationary sources such as power
plants, manufacturing facilities, smelters, motor machines, and
burning wood and coal; mobile sources such as trucks, buses, planes
and cars; and natural sources such as volcanic eruptions, and
windstorm dust. The pollutants from these sources are released into
the air which can affect the health of humans, animals and our
environment. The quality of air depends on 3 factors: the amount of
pollutants, the rate at which they are released in the atmosphere, and
how long they are trapped in an area.
The air pollution sources emit a wide range of pollutants classified
under different categories that include Sulfur Dioxide (SO2),
particulate matter, Hydrocarbons (HC) and volatile organic
compounds (VOC), Lead, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Carbon
Monoxide (CO), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), and Smog. In most regions,
noticeable air quality degraders include smoke, dust, CO, NOx, SO2,
HC, and smog from factories, power plants, automobiles, and
smelters especially around urban and industrial areas.
Many of these air pollutants occur as gases, but some are very tiny
solid particles, such as dust, smoke or soot. Air pollution from various
sources can affect indoor air as well. Removing the pollutants from
indoor air can improve the quality of your indoor air. Indoor air
pollutants include cigarette smoke, mould, dust mites, pet dander,
formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and radon gas.
If air pollutants are in an area with good airflow, they will mix with the
air and quickly disperse. Air pollutants tend to remain in the air when
when there are certain conditions like light winds or mountains that
restrict the transport of these pollutants away from an area. When this
happens, pollution concentrations can increase rapidly.
How to Improve Air Quality?
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Document Summary
Air quality refers to the condition of the air within our surrounding. Good air quality pertains to the degree which the air is clean, clear and free from pollutants such as smoke, dust and smog among other gaseous impurities in the air. Air quality is determined by assessing a variety of pollution indicators. Good air quality is a requirement for preserving the exquisite balance of life on earth for humans, plants, animals and natural resources. As such, human health, plants, animals and natural resources are threatened when pollution in the air reach high concentrations. Poor air quality can affect or harm human health and/or the environment. Air quality can be degraded by natural or man-made sources. Man-made source include pollution from moving vehicles, toxic gases from industries, coal powered plants, burning wood or other material in open air, landfills. Both these sources can seriously affect the overall air quality and can lead to severe health problems for humans.
